Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-21
FRIDAY. OCTOBER 81, 1887.
A Government Telegraph.

certainly two sides TO it. But we do
not propose to discuss it fully to-day.
IL il were not for the fear of the bad
results of increasing so greatly the
number of the Government employees
there would, we believe, be such pre-
poDderating public opinion in favor of
the scheme as would compel its adop-
ton by Congress at once. How many
new Federal employees would be add
ed in Virginia? This interrogatory is
not so hard to answer as might at first
blush be supposed. There are about
two thousand postmasters in Vir-
ginia, and even If their paid
clerks, the letter-carriers, &c, be in
cluded, less than twenty-five hunlre
postal agents. There might not
be needed for long time as many tele-
graph operators. But let us concede
that there would be. Then five thou
sand postal and telegraph agents would
be employed in Virginia, it will be
said and that the number of these
agents is too large out of voting popu-
lation of 100000. Is il? Then let
us remember that this number would
be reduced 10y almost half by making
the postmaster and the telegraph ope-
rator one and the same person. For if
the Government establishes national
lines of telegraph it will make them
part of the postal system, and will as
far as possible impose the duties of
telegraph operator upon the postmaster,
or rice rcrSG.
To the Post-O Office Department every
objection can be made that can be
raised against the proposed scheme.
We cannot think of q single real OBJ
lection to the one which will not apply
as well to the other.
There are among the Democrats of
the country many who favor this
scheme for still further extending the
monopolistic powers of the Federal
Government. There are among the
Republicans many who oppose it. Our
own belief is that a national telegraph
system, controlled and owned by the
Federal Government, is certain to be
established in this country at very
early day, and, therefore, that to fight
against it is TO fight against the inevi-
table.
1t is a question whether the Govern
ment shall purchase the present lines
or establish new ones. 1t seems to us
that it would be wisest and best to pur-
chase the present lines, but to pay for
them, not the amount which watered
stock might seem to indicate as fair
price, but a sum equal to, or exceeding
by liberal addition, the sum which it
would cost to construct new lines along
the same routes. This question, how
ever, will come up later. First catch
your hare"
Government employees never strike
for higher wages. That is one fact to be
taken into consideration. On the con-
trary, they hold on to their places with
grip which nothing but death can I'M
loose. "Few die and none resign"
said Mr.. JEFFERSON. The public,
therefore, will, after the Government
takes charge Of the telegraphs, suffer
never again rs it did during the con-
tinuance OF the recent strike [of tele-
graph operatorsl. The reason why
Government employees do not strike
is, first and foremost, because the Gov
eminent pays its employees literally (;
but, secondly, because there is nobody
to strike at or against, Congress being
the body which appropriates all the
money expended in paying Govern
ment salaries or other Government
debts.
The Federal Government is able and
willing to send tclegraphic messages, as
il sends letters, all distances for one
aud the same price. 1t is a sort OF pa
ternalism that we see exempliiied IN
the most beneicent institutions in the
land-namely, the postal system and
the public-school system. Railroads
are a different sort Of thing, and will
probably for long time remain as now
in private hands, but even railroads will
soon be carrying passengers for one
cent per nile, and eventually still more
cheaply.
We have said that this is q large
question and We do not pretend to
have discussed it thoroughly in this
article. Far from it, 1t would require
columns 10 set forth the arguments
which could be sdducsd for and against
il. But since we hold that the adoption
OF q national system of telegraphs TO be
owned and controlled by the Govern
ment is unavoidable, and therefore can
not be prevented by discussion, il i,
not necessary from our point Of view t
discuss tho subject exhaustively. w
appreciate its dangers, foresee its ben
efits, and are prepared to accept tn,
latter and to try to avert the former.
The New York Herald viii pleas,
take notice that the foregoing was thu
leading editorial in the Daily Dispatcl
OF August 81. 1883. and that We are o.
the same opinion still.